Prescribed burn planned Friday at Martin Park Nature Center, OKC

Oklahoma Forestry Services will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire at Martin Park Nature Center with a prescribed burn planned for Friday, March 15.

The burn, conducted at the City’s request, will remove the build-up of dead grass, improve the wildlife habitat and boost the overall ecological health of the park, 5000 W Memorial Road.

“A prescribed burn is healthy maintenance for parkland like Martin Park,” said City Natural Resources Manager Scott Copelin. “Burning the dry, dead grass now in a controlled setting will turn dangerous tinder into nutrients for the soil and help prevent a disastrous accidental or natural fire.”

The burn area is the grassy meadow in the northwestern part of the park. The total burn area will be about 8 acres.

Weather and the condition of the grass are major factors in choosing a safe day to burn, and advance public notice of the specific day is difficult because both those factors change often.

Oklahoma Forestry Services has been monitoring the weather and grass for months to determine an ideal day for the burn. Officials made the decision Thursday morning to do the burn Friday.

The City will use social media to alert residents and the media, and put signage along Memorial Road for drivers and pedestrians. Follow the City of Oklahoma City on Twitter or Facebook for updates on the burn and other important City issues.

The park will remain open during the burn, but access to the burn areas will be restricted.

City firefighters and police officers will be on scene to monitor the fire alongside Oklahoma Forestry Services.

For more information on the use and benefits of prescribed fire, visit www.forestry.ok.gov/rxfire

People with questions about Martin Park’s prescribed burn can call Scott Copelin at (405) 297-3737.